Allowance

I was puzzled for a while why our Mr. Tsang proposed to introduce the Mean Test for applicants of the Old Age Allowance - he could have many better ways to ask for colourful languages if not vegetables.

Is it because we are expecting so many senior citizens that we should limit our expenditure on them ?

No, don't be silly. Old people would not vanish into thin air and their basic need won't go away just because our government turns a blind eye to them. If we don't support them by tax, we've got to pay for their living in one way or another. After all, if our life span is 80 and we retire at 60, it is a mathematical certainty that we have one senior citizen for every four of us. You can do nothing about it - unless certain Mr. Tsang or one of his delegates is courageous enough to put some poison into our drinking water.

Well, on a first glance it is incredible for a keen follower of John Keynes to take such a step. You know what, giving Old Age Allowance is a highly effective way to boost the local economy: they would spend most of the sum to support (mostly small) business.

At least it seems better than building a cultural center.

Then, why ?